Behind My Smile - EDITING SOON

XXIII) MIA

The rhythmic sound of soles on linoleum tile echoed in the hall as Nino strode to the front desk. The nurse at her monitor held a clipboard of countless papers and had half a muffin hanging from her mouth. "Excuse me, Ms.?" The nurse looked up in shock before hastily setting down her clipboard and ripping the food from her face. She looked up patiently and ready to answer, her lips covered in crumbs. "Is there a chance that Adrien Agreste has moved rooms?"

Her fingers typed away at her keyboard with haste. "Who's asking?". She clicked her mouse a few times and continued to type.

"His best friend. I thought maybe he was in physical therapy, but I couldn't find him anywhere in the facility." The nurse looked up from her monitor with a bored look, obviously thinking Nino a complete lummox.

"Have you checked the restroom? The fitness center? Are you sure he's not in his room?" The nurse drawled.

"I'm very sure. I've looked everywhere. From what I've heard he's not to be released for at least another week or two. I think... he might be missing."

"He should be in room 329. Patients don't just disappear. We've the best security in the nation." She scoffed, returning to her muffin and clipboard. Down the hall another nurse ran, his eyes wide and his arms flailing, a pager in his hand. At the desk a beeping sound resounded, bringing the nurse's eyes down to her own pager. "Code yellow..." she whispered. The male nurse arrived at the desk and began babbling to her as other nurses and some security guards ran down the hall from where he'd come. "Room 329?" She asked standing up. He breathlessly nodded and swallowed before turning and running up the stairs beside the desk. "Well, mate... I think you might be right."

∞∞∞∞∞

Chat Noir sighed in boredom as he lay on the roof of his apartment complex, a radio blaring news and music by his head. It had been too long since he had transformed, and the same since he'd seen fresh air. His legs ached from the leaps and bounds, but all we wanted was to be home. At the hospital, everything was so clean. Nothing had any personality or wear. The doctors thankfully believed it was an accident and hadn't forced him into their psychiatric ward. He'd seen the way they babied the patients, the way everything was observed like a hawk. No decision was your own in the psychiatric ward, no twitch unnoticed. Chat Noir would rather be left alone in his sorrow, lying on his roof on a breezy autumn day without being watched by obsessive doctors and medical technicians.

The sun filtered down on his face, warming his cheeks and eyelids. But he couldn't enjoy it. The physical and emotional pain was too much to bear. No amount of sunlight could dry his tears. "Plagg, claws in." His suit leeched away in a blink, allowing Plagg to exit his ring.

Adrien lifted his head slightly from the roof's surface to look at Plagg resting on his hospital gown. "I haven't seen you in so long, kid."

"We saw each other last night. And you've been watching me the whole time we were there."

"No, I mean, really seen you. I think... I think I've been blatantly ignoring the negativity. I haven't been doing enough to help you."

"You've been my closest friend and confidant since I was fourteen, Plagg. You've helped me more than anyone ever could."

"Adrien, you're sick. You want to die, that's not normal. That's not healthy. I'm not licensed to help with this sort of thing. I've tried, but I'm failing. If we go back, you could tell Dr. Riviere you need more help. You could tell her you purposely stepped in front of that car. Tell her about your father, and your mother. Tell her about Marinette. Tell her about Lila, and Luka. Let her help you."

"I'm fine on my own." Adrien rolled to his side, wincing as his legs tangled. His attention strayed from Plagg as he continued to speak. The radio seemed more and more interesting, and soon he found himself tuned in to the breaking news being broadcasted.